Egyptian and Qatari efforts are continuing on a daily basis to broker a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said.
“We are working every day in coordination with our Qatari counterparts to finalise an agreement that would bring relief to both sides, especially the civilians,” Abdelatty told a press conference on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Türkiye on Friday.
Abdelatty said “a temporary administrative committee will be formed to manage the Gaza Strip for a six-month transitional period until the Palestinian Authority is prepared to assume full administrative control of the territory”.
The Egyptian foreign minister stressed that once a ceasefire is achieved in Palestine’s Gaza there will be a broad international effort to reconstruct the war-torn territory.
“There is a shared understanding that Gaza must be rebuilt, and this will require coordinated international contributions,” he added.
Erdogan reiterates his long-standing criticism of the United Nations Security Council, reiterating his signature phrase, “The world is bigger than five,” a reference to the Council's five permanent members.
Abdelatty also stressed that “any forced displacement of the Palestinian people from their land, under any pretext, constitutes a liquidation of the Palestinian cause,” reaffirming Egypt’s absolute rejection of such proposals.
The minister disclosed that discussions are also ongoing about “training Palestinian police forces and the potential deployment of an international force to protect civilians in Gaza”.
“The objective is to restore security and stability with safeguards for the people,” he said.
Abdelatty emphasised that “Israel must return to the framework of its responsibilities and international law”.
The Israeli army renewed its assault on Gaza on March 18, shattering the January 19 ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.
4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum, taking place from 11 to 13 April under the auspices of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, begins in Antalya.
